Minnow-harness.



J. WQ CONWAY.

MINNOW HARNESS.

APPLICATION FILED MAR. 6. 1911.

1924!?9351 Patented Nov. 27, 19u;

T/z Ir/irak.' gwwwMmf, L; 744, @Zwar JOHN WILLIAM CONWAY, 0F HARTFORD, CQNNECTIGUT.

MINNGW-HARNESS.

Speccation of Letters Patent.

Patented N ov. 2?, 11917.

Application led March 6, 191'?. Serial No. 152,921.

To all whom t may concern:

Be it known that l, JOHN NLLLIAM CON- WAY, a citizen of the United Stat-es, residing at Hartford, in the county of Hartford and State of Connecticut, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in MinnonT- Harness, of which the following is a specication.

My invention relates to improvements in minnow harnesses, and the object of my improvement is simplicity and economy in construction and convenience and etliciency in use.

ln the accompanying drawing Figure 1 is a side elevation orP my improved minnow-harness, the minnow being shown in broken lines.

Fig. 2 is a rear end elevation of the same.

Fig. 3 is a plan view of the same with the parts in the open position.

Fig. 4 is a sectional view on the line a: of Fig. 1.

Fig. 5 is a side elevation, showing a modication of the clamping ring.

Fig. 6 is a similar View, showing another modification of the clamping ring.

My improved minnow harness comprises a housing formed of two similar side frames 10 of skeleton construction, and of suitable form to inclose the body portion of the minnow 11, leaving the headand tail exposed at the ends, and means for holding the said side frames 10 together in the form of a clamping ring 12.

rlhe frames 10 comprise each a longitudinally extending top piece 13 at the top of generally rounded form corresponding to the contour of the upper portion of the minnow 11 and a bottom piece 14 at the bottom also of rounded form and corresponding in a similar manner to `the contour of the lower portion of the minnow, and a set of ribs cross-connecting the said top piece 13 and bottom piece 14 comprising an end rib 16 adjacent the tail end and end rib 17 at the head end and a plurality of filler ribs 18 in spaced relation and extending from the head end rib 17 over the main body portion and terminating with the inner filler rib 19 as shown adjacent or slightly rearwardly of the crown portion 20, where the structure has the maximum width, corresponding to the widest part of the minnow 11.

Between the rear iller rib 19 and the tail end rib 16 there is an open space 21 that is normally inclosed by the clamping ring 12.

llhe portion 22 of the top piece 13 bordel1 ing the top side oi the space 21 and the opposed portion 23 of the bottom piece 15 bordering the lower side o1" the said space 21 are generally convergent from the crown portion 20 rearwardly to the tail end corresponding approximately to the contour of the minnow 11.

rlhe said portions 22 and 23 are formed suitably to coperate with the ring or sleeve l2 to serve as clamping members, and to this end the outer faces are formed so as to have a conical form of moderate taper, the sleeve 12 being of corresponding taper suitable to be forced over the portions 22 and 23 and to be held frictiona-lly in place.

The sleeve 12 preferably has a generally oval form of cross-section, as shown.

The bottom piece 15 outwardly from the crowned portion 20 is extended downwardly in the form of a rib 24 which terminates at the head end in the forni of an eye 25 to which line 26 extending to the ish-pole is connected and at the tail end terminating in the eye 27 to which a short piece 28 of line is attached for connecting with the hook 29.

The lines 26 and 28 are preferably connected to the eyes 24 and 27 by means of short loops 30 as shown, the lines being in each case rove through the holes in the opposed eyes of the two mating frame members 10. Thus the loops 30 serve as a loose connection for holding the two side frames 10 together when in the open position.

rlhe frames 10 may be made of castings of aluminum or other suitable material, or may be struck up of sheet metal.

The clamping sleeve 12 as shown in Fig. 1 is made of sheet material, with a continuous side wall, and may be nickel plated.

In the modification shown in Fig. 5 the clamping ring or sleeve 12a has the sides slitt-ed to correspond generally to the skeleton ribbed form of the main frame structure.

In the modiiication shown in Fig. 6 a clamping ring 12b of wire is used in lieu of the sheet metal sleeve.

ln order to admit the minnow the sleeve is slipped back over the tail end, and the frame parts are opened, and after the minnow hasbeen put-in place the frame is closedi thesegbeing suitablyv rounded at the'periph ery to form a proper surface to cooperate with the opposed inneiI faces of the top and bottom Walls 3l of the clamping sleeve.

The side Walls 32 of the clamping sleeves are flattened, the general shape of the sleeve beingv oval as mentioned, and the said side Walls 32 serve in place of filler ribs 18 to complete the cage or guard. for the portions of the side frames from Which sueh filler ribs 18 areomitted.

Therefore by making the clamping sleeve of appreciable length the same serves in a reliable and effective manner as a clamping member and also forms an appreciable portion of the side iva-ll of the general structure. Also, by having the tapered sliding surfaces and the cooperating clamping ring orsleeve of appreciable length, as shown, the mating members of the frame are maintained in proper alinement for cooperating to house the` minnoW.

I claiml as my invention l. A minnoW-harness comprising a pair of mating side frames of skeleton form suitable for coperating to house a minnoiv, parts of the outer faces of the said frames being formed so as to cooperate to provide a tapered bearing surface, a clamping ring fitting over the said bearing surface, suitable to be slipped thereover so as to be frictionally held in place, and the said bearing surface `and-ring being of appreciable length suitable to effect a relative positioning o the said frames.

2. A minnoW-harness comprising a pair of mating side frames of skeleton form suitable for cooperating to house a minnoW, parts ofthe outerl faces of the said frames being formed so as to cooperate to provide a tapered bearing surface, a clamping ring litting over the said bearing surface, suitable to be slipped thereover so as to be frictionally held in place, the said bearing surface and ring being of appreciable length suitable to effect a relative positioning ofthe said frames, and the side Walls of the said ring being providedwith sight openings for exposing the minnow.

3. A minnow harness composed of a pair of mating side frames of'slieleton form, a sleeve-like clamping ringserving to inclose a portion of the length of the said'frames, the said frames comprising a longitudinally extending member along the top and bottom border, that engages with `the said clamping ring, and crossribs orossconnecting the said members on each side of the said .clamping ring.

4:. In a minnovv harness, a pair of mating side frames of skeleton form, a clamping ring serving to hold the said frames together, and the said frames having opposed ears at each end adapted to receive aline to effect a loose hinge connectiony for the said frames.

JOHN WILLIAM CONWAY. Witnesses:

ALICE Gr. CARROLL, Louis M. SCHMIDT.

Copies of this patent may be obtained for five cents each, by addressing the Commissioner of Patents,

Washington, D. C. 

